Articles

Australia’s first criminal cartel conviction: NYK fined $25 million

Compliance with competition laws has never before been so important.

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Striking the right balance

JWS has successfully encouraged a Court decision to strike a balance between a legislative intention and an overall objective to maximise the return for creditors and any return to shareholders.

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Two steps forward, one step back: director appointments & members’ rights

As DOCAs and deed administrators cannot otherwise amend the constitution of a company, there is potential for overreach when it comes to the power and utility of DOCAs.

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Dispute Resolution Update: Q2 2017

There have been a number of significant developments in the Dispute Resolution team.

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Amendments to modern awards: casual conversions and workforce reviews

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission recently determined to make a number of amendments to modern awards relating to casual and part-time employees.

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Key points for boards and activist shareholders from Perpetual’s loss to Brickworks and Soul Patts

The Federal Court has released its judgment in favour of Brickworks Limited and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, in its proceedings with Perpetual.1

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Set-off rights miss the mark!

A recent court decision is a timely reminder of the limitations that can affect a person’s ability to rely on set-off rights when a debtor or contract counterparty becomes insolvent.

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ACCC’s electrical cartel zapped out by the Federal Court

"On 9 March 2017, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed allegations brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) against Australia’s largest cable manufacturers, Olex...

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Draft regulations and guideline for the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism

On 27 April 2017, the Commonwealth Government announced that it would implement the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) to ensure there is a sufficient supply of natural gas to meet...

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Final destination: High Court decides market ‘in Australia’ for the Air Cargo Cartel

The High Court’s decision is the final (Australian) chapter in the long running Air Cargo Cartel matter. Between 2008 and 2010, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued...

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Merger with benefits: Lessons from the Tabcorp/Tatts case

The Australian Competition Tribunal has given competition approval for the $11bn merger of Tabcorp and Tatts. Although the Tribunal was the first instance decision maker in this case, under...

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Third party claims against insurers in NSW – farewell to the statutory charge

A new law will permit liquidators to more confidently make decisions about whether or not to pursue insurers directly without the worry of speculating as to whether there are other competing claims...

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Changes to penalty rates and minimum wage rates in modern awards

Two recent decisions of FWC mean that employers, particularly in the retail and hospitality industries, should confirm their minimum rate obligations to employees.

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To Have and to Hold

The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in Mighty River International Ltd v Hughes & Bredenkamp [2017] WASC 69 (Mighty River v Hughes) has confirmed the legality and the...

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The perils of disregarding due process

Receivers may breach their duty of care if they sell property over which they are appointed without first conducting a marketing campaign or running a public auction.

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To adjourn, or not to adjourn: applications by administrators to adjourn winding up applications

It is not uncommon for administrators to be appointed in the period between a company being served with a creditor’s winding up application and the date on which that application is to be heard...

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Redundancy – NES relied on to interpret employment contracts

As highlighted by a recent Full Bench decision of the WA AIRC (Spotless Group v Dennis Buckle [2017] WAIRC 00024), tribunals are prepared to refer to the National Employment Standards to resolve...

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Procedural fundamentals: extension of convening period for second creditors’ meetings

The factors which an administrator can cite in support of any extension application will necessarily depend upon the unique factual circumstances involved.

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Australian Energy Regulator v Australian Competition Tribunal (Ausgrid decisions)

A decision by the Full Federal Court supports the Australian Competition Tribunal’s February 2016 findings: that there may be a different benchmark efficient entity for each service provider, and...

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Approvals for CSG water treatment facilities in NSW

On 14 March 2017, the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of NSW gave its decision in People for the Plains Incorporated v Santos NSW (Eastern) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 46 (Case). The Case considered...

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Likely new corporate offence of failing to prevent foreign bribery

All companies, however large or small, will need to comply with these proposed laws when (rather than if) they are enacted.

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Foreign Bribery Update 2016: May

Important developments in Australia and overseas in foreign bribery policy, investigations and regulation to 20 May 2016, including international the role of intermediaries in Unaoil and the Panama...

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Can the knowledge of several employees be aggregated and attributed to the company?

In certain circumstances, knowledge of fraud by employees may be aggregated to determine culpability of a company where there is a duty and opportunity to communicate it to the other.

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PPS leases get another makeover

Insolvency practitioners will need to consider whether a lease is entered into before or after the commencement of the Amending Act, as this will determine which set of rules apply.

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